Freddy Heineken
Alfred Henry Heineken | |
|---|---|
| Born | 4 November 1923 Amsterdam, Netherlands |
| Died | 3 January 2002 (aged 78) Noordwijk, Netherlands |
| Occupation | Entrepreneur |
| Years active | 1941–1995 |
| Known for | Chairman and CEO of Heineken International |
Alfred Henry Heineken (4 November 1923 – 3 January 2002) was a prominent Dutch entrepreneur and a central figure at Heineken International, the brewing enterprise established by his grandfather Gerard Adriaan Heineken in 1864. He held the positions of chairman and CEO from 1971 until 1989, subsequently continuing as a board member and leading the supervisory board between 1989 and 1995. At the time of his passing, Heineken ranked among the Netherlands' wealthiest, with a fortune valued at 9.5 billion guilders.
Early life
Born in Amsterdam on 4 November 1923, Heineken was the grandson of Gerard Adriaan Heineken, the original founder of the brewery now known as Heineken International.
Career
He entered the family business on 1 June 1941, during a period when ownership had shifted away from the family. Subsequently, he repurchased shares to regain family control, creating Heineken Holding which secured a majority stake of 50.005% in Heineken International. By stepping down as chairman in 1989, he had transformed Heineken from a national brand into an internationally recognized company.
Kidnapping
In 1983, Freddy Heineken and his chauffeur Ab Doderer were abducted and later freed following payment of a ransom totaling 35 million Dutch guilders (approximately 15.8 million euros or 17.3 million US dollars). The perpetrators—Cor van Hout, Willem Holleeder, Jan Boellaard, Frans Meijer, and Martin Erkamps—were eventually captured and sentenced. Van Hout and Holleeder spent more than three years detained in France before being extradited; Meijer escaped to Paraguay but was apprehended by crime journalist Peter R. de Vries and subsequently extradited.
This event served as inspiration for the films The Heineken Kidnapping (2011) and Kidnapping Freddy Heineken (2015).
Personal life
He married Lucille Cummins, who came from an American lineage of bourbon whiskey producers based in Kentucky. Politically, he was associated with the People's Party for Freedom and Democracy (VVD).
In 1989, Heineken stirred controversy by demolishing Villa Böhler in Oberalpina, a building designed by Heinrich Tessenow.
During his later years, he suffered health challenges including a minor stroke in 1999. He passed away due to pneumonia on 3 January 2002 at age 78 in Noordwijk. His daughter, Charlene de Carvalho-Heineken, survived him and inherited his wealth. His final resting place is at the General Cemetery in Noordwijk.
In popular culture
The 2011 movie De Heineken Ontvoering stars Rutger Hauer as Freddy Heineken. Another film from 2013 titled Kidnapping Mr. Heineken, adapted from De Vries' book, features Anthony Hopkins portraying Heineken, alongside Jim Sturgess, Sam Worthington, Ryan Kwanten, Mark van Eeuwen, and Thomas Cocquerel as the kidnappers.
Book
- The United States of Europe, A Eurotopia?, published in 1992.